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 enlarge | Author: William P. Young
Publisher: Windblown Media
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
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Rating:  1858 reviews
Sales Rank: 10
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0964729237
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780964729230
ASIN: 0964729237
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: SPECIAL PURCHASE LIMITED TIME ONLY Brand New Factory Sealed, (We do not ship to HI, AK, NY KS, WA, ND)
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1581-1585 of 1858
 God Is Real. March 30, 2008
Nancy Noel (Maitland, Florida United States)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is so "theology" but not "theology". It is a must read to learn who God is and His many faces. Is it fiction? It may not be. It has me more focused on God. I will read it again.
 Blasphemy & Poison March 30, 2008
L. Joy Crossman
17 out of 31 found this review helpful
My husband puchased this book due to recommendations made to him. He read the first couple of chapters and then was horrified at the false "gods" that were presented. He took it and put it in the TRASH, just as he had his rock records years ago when he was born again.
As Christians, we need to be extremely cautious what we accept as "Christian", and what we put into our minds. Another god and doctrine can easily be presented to deceive us. This is warfare, and we better know the tactics of our enemies. It's saddening and pretty shocking to realize that just a few years ago, Christian people would have been up in arms about a book which portrays "god" as a black woman. And oh, the twist of the concept of a "female papa". What in the world has happened to the church???!! This would have been only in the teachings of pagans, witches, and satanists years ago.
Would we eat something that tasted good if we knew there was poison in it?? Well, there are some things more dangerous than physical poison, which can do even more damage. Namely this kind of blasphemy rolled up in "godly" trappings.
Mark this author as a real live "wolf in sheep's clothing", the kind we were warned to watch out for. We will never read another one of his books and will spread the word about his trashy book, and his true colors.
The Shack: A Building Without A Foundation March 30, 2008
Ryan Whipple (Banks, OR)
147 out of 195 found this review helpful
The biggest flaw in The Shack centers on the nature of God. This is most evident in regards to the great doctrine of the Trinity. In The Shack Young gives his readers a visual picture of the Trinity when Mack, the main character meets God. Mack, much to his surprise, finds upon meeting God the Father that he/she is an African American woman who goes by the name "Papa." Papa we read is frequently in the kitchen cooking and baking such things as pies and scones. The Holy Spirit is an Asian woman whose name is Sarayu, who is a keeper of the gardens.
To much less surprise, Jesus is a Middle-Eastern man. Jesus, as portrayed by Young, comes off as somewhat effeminate as he likes to hold hands, hug, kiss, smile, giggle, act goofy, and wink. He is also clumsy!
In one scene in the kitchen, all three persons of the Godhead are laughing at Jesus because he dropped some sauce that got everywhere, including Papa's skirt and feet. Papa later said at the dinner table, "We were going to have this incredible Japanese sauce, but greasy fingers over there (reference to Jesus) decided to see if it would bounce."
"C'mon now," Jesus responded in mock defense. "My hands were slippery. What can I say?"
"Papa winked at Mack as she passed him the rice. "You can't get good help around here."
"Everyone laughed" (105).
It makes me wonder, among other things, that if Jesus cannot handle a bowl of sauce without dropping it and making a mess, how can He handle our lives and the workings of the world? But I move on.
I conclude that Young misrepresents the doctrine of the Trinity. He seeks to humanize the Godhead, or bring it down to our level. I am not sure whether Young is simply trying to make the Godhead more understandable (and therefore commits a theological error), or if he himself is confused on the nature of the Godhead, or both. To make God out to be three different characters, two women and one man, is to promote the idea of tri-theism, that there is three gods. God is Spirit, which means He does not have human flesh; He is immaterial. Therefore one must trend ever so cautiously when seeking to describe God, and ascribe to Him a human form. We must guard against creating God in our image. This is the problem in representing the Godhead as two women and one man as it is misrepresenting the Biblical view of God, for it promotes the idea of three individuals who are each God and therefore producing three gods.
The doctrine of the Trinity is a very complex statement about God that is taught in Scripture, and it is best to stay within the Scriptural bounds on the issue of the Godhead and be ever so careful not to walk outside those bounds and say something about the nature of God that Scripture never intended to say. However, to have three individuals or persons (as in The Shack) who when asked who is God, all proclaim "I am," it appears to me that one has just distorted the Biblical doctrine of the Godhead and promoted tri-theism.
It is surprising to see how Mack reacts with being in the presence of God. When he meets God, whom he addresses as "Papa," he is shocked and surprised, but mostly angry at God. Mack in an early encounter with Papa throws an accusation her/his way, "If you couldn't take care of Missy, how can I trust you to take care of me?" (92). In saying this Mack's face became "flush angry red" and "his hands were knotted into fists." How does Papa respond? By apologizing! "Mack, I'm so sorry...."
Let's think about Job for a minute. If anyone has ever had a right to be angry with God, Job is the man. Job lost all his possessions, his children, his health, and was left with a nagging wife! After some time of questioning what was going on in his life and questioning God, Job gets a response, but certainly not one that he anticipated! God unleashes a series of questions upon Job that demonstrate His creative power, sovereignty, and wisdom, and God questions whether Job himself also has these attributes, and if not, then the proper response from Job is to be quiet and to trust Him. To which Job properly responds by saying, "Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to you? I lay my hand on my mouth." God does not even mention the suffering of Job, let alone give a reason for it. When Job comes into the presence of God, he does not accuse. He is humbled, He does not find fault with God. He repents. If all one took from the book of Job is that we dare not throw accusations at God, it will be a lesson worth learning. However, this is not a lesson taught in The Shack.
Or think of Isaiah having a vision and seeing the "Lord sitting upon His throne, high and lifted up..." Isaiah goes on to describe the scene where seraphim were calling out in the presence of God: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" What did Isaiah do in response to being in the presence of God? He was astonished and fearful and declared that he was unclean! I am sorry, but Isaiah did not have a vision of God is all His glory and see a woman baking scones and listening to funk music! Now don't misunderstand, this is not to put down women who bake or people who listen to modern music. The point is that God in His Holiness is completely unlike us, He is wholly different than humans, He is wholly other. Or as the book rightly states, God is "holy, and wholly other than you" (98). To seek to humanize God is to take away from His glory and holiness. I am sorry, but I have an issue with God being portrayed as a scone and pie baker who listens to funk music! What point is the author trying to convey about God? It just seems to smack of irreverence to me.
Unfortunately, the image The Shack portrays of God is a weak one (a baker?). When Jesus came to earth, He did not reveal Himself through baking pies and scones but by performing miraculous healings, raising people from the dead, and by authoritatively teaching about heavy doctrinal issues. In conclusion, The Shack in many aspects does not line up with Scripture. Therefore, many of its conclusions about God end up being contrary to Scripture at best, and at worst, may be blasphemous. Therefore, The Shack would not be on my recommending reading list as it creates more problems than it does solutions by painting an unbiblical picture of God.
God does work in different ways in different people, however, it then does not follow that every individual's idea, experiences, and thoughts about God are correct. Scripture exhorts us to examine and test everything by the Word of God (1 Thess. 5:21; 1 Jn. 4:1). This would include such material as The Shack. Therefore, if one does decides to read this book, it is crucial that they use discernment and judge it by the truth of Scripture.
It is sad that for Mack, in finding his peace and comfort, he does not find it through the Word of God, nor even prayer, but in an experience. And an experience that does not appear to built upon the solid rock of God's Word.
quick mailing March 29, 2008
Gail Gutterud
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
The book arrived much sooner than we anticipated. It was in excellent condition.
A+A+A+A+A+A+
A Progressive Evangelical Perspective March 29, 2008
Leonard Matheson (St. Charles, MO USA)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is an important novel for all who are considering Christianity, and even more important for those of us who are comfortable in our faith. The novel itself is discomforting, challenging, fun, and ultimately enlightening.
This is a fable about how God uses tragedy to grow each of us. Although I am now in my 60s, my faith journey has been tumultuous and rocky. Had this book been available when I was in adolescence, I believe that it would have made a difference and helped me to develop a much more humble and hopeful and therefore enduring relationship with God.
This book will unsettle many conservative Christians who are comfortable in "holy huddles" and rarely venture into the inner city or reach out to people in jail or prison. It is my hope that if you are one of these people, you will consider reading this book and discussing it with a loved one, as I have myself.
Although God is constantly working on me and comes to me through many channels, in recent years this has been one of the most profound books that I have read. I have recommended it to my brothers in Christ and to many people whom I counsel as a psychologist. It is especially important for people who are stuck in recrimination, resentment, or retribution.
Finally, do not read this book before going to bed.
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